17 Site Selection SITE SELECTION A major component of the master plan is the identification and compilation of potential future memorial and museum sites in the District of Columbia and environs. The site selection process also evaluated the candidate locations relative to ele- ments of the framework. Each location was assigned a level of significance based The process that was undertaken in the initial identification, evaluation, and short- on the planning and urban design principles described earlier in this report. The listing of the potential locations was, by necessity, iterative. The initial list of loca- elements of the framework were placed in the following order of importance: tions was both expanded and reduced on several occasions resulting in a final list of locations that was agreed upon for purposes of additional evaluation and refine- Waterfront Crescent ment. A select list of prime locations was also identified and all sites were catego- Monumental Corridors (Gateway Boulevards and Principal Avenues) rized as to prominence, size, availability, and numerous other factors. Commemorative Focus Areas The initial list of potential locations was a compilation of sites: Final Candidate Sites and Site Locations Identified by the National Park Service A brief summary of each site was distributed to the members of the JTFM and other Suggested by NCPC interested parties, including the Committee of 100, Advisory Neighborhood Included in the NCPC Legacy Plan Commissions, District Council Members and staff, select staff from Congressional Identified because they would complete or restore missing elements oversight committees, etc. After review and comment, a consensus was reached of the L'Enfant Plan and the final short-list of 100 Candidate memorial and museum sites was com- Added by consensus of the JTFM and consultant team pleted. Figure 3-1 illustrates these sites with respect to the master plan framework. These 100 sites and site locations then underwent detailed analysis and evaluation Combining sites from each of these processes resulted in a total of 402 potential by the consultant team. sites for initial evaluation. Identification of Prime Sites Identification of Candidate Sites Initial Short-Listing of Candidate Sites All of the candidate sites are prominent locations capable of accommodating memorials or museums of national importance. Nevertheless, the relative signifi- NCPC conducted an initial analysis of the selected 402 potential memorial and cance of each site or site location varies depending upon how the site relates to the museum locations for the purpose of preparing a short-list of approximately 100 principles that underlie the framework. These principles include symbolic promi- candidate locations that would undergo more detailed urban design, transportation, nence, visual linkages, and aesthetic quality. The Prime Sites are those of the high- environmental, and economic evaluation. The process of preparing this short-list est order. Because of their high visibility and strong axial relationships with the of "Candidate" locations, as they were called, incorporated the following steps: U.S. Capitol and the White House, they should be reserved for subjects of lasting Identifying and mapping various planning criteria identified as historical and national importance. applicable to the description and analysis of potential sites. Developing site-specific evaluation criteria and preparing associated Of the 100 candidate sites, 20 are identified as prime sites. Nine of these are con- reference databases and maps. sidered to be current Prime Sites, or sites available for immediate development with Applying evaluation criteria to potential locations. minimal changes while the other 11 Prime Sites are either dependent on implemen- Weighing and ranking the potential locations. tation of Legacy proposals or would require some other modifications to enable Short-listing candidate locations. development in the future. Twelve Prime Sites are under the jurisdiction of the Gathering JTFM and agency review and comments on candidate locations. NPS. Although most of the Other Candidate Sites (those not designated as Prime) Obtaining consensus. Candidate Sites Relative to the Design Framework are on National Park Service or General Services Administration lands, approxi- NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION 18 MEMORIALS AND MUSEUMS MASTER PLAN mately 34 of the recommended sites are located on non-GSA or NPS lands (i.e., Economic Criteria other federal land, District of Columbia, WMATA, or private lands). Only eight of The nature of a memorial or museum–that is, who or what is being commemorated the recommended sites are on private property. or displayed–influences its associated economic status. However, for the purposes of the master plan, economic analysis focused on the ways in which adding a The remaining 80 candidate sites are not ranked. This is not to suggest, however, that memorial or museum to a candidate site would economically benefit the surround- they are not important sites. They are highly recommended because of either their ing area, and the region as a whole. The evaluation included analysis of a site’s linear visual connections between key existing and future commemorative features, existing economic uses (e.g., offices) and amenities (e.g., retail). their role in reinforcing the overall design structure of the Nation's Capital, or the sup- port they could provide to federal and local planning or development objectives. Transportation Criteria The evaluation of transportation at candidate sites addressed access requirements Site Evaluation Criteria and Process and constraints; the general magnitude of development that might be accommo- dated, given resources at the site; and potential transportation improvements. Six Site evaluations were performed on the 100 candidate sites to document the physi- modes of transportation were evaluated: Metrorail; Metrobus; pedestrian; water- cal and contextual characteristics of each site relative to its suitability and appropri- based vehicles; the Legacy circulator; and passenger vehicles. Access to each site, ateness for a commemorative feature. via these modes, was assessed based on factors such as walking distances, parking availability, and proximity to the waterfront and key roadways. The site evaluation included: Environmental Criteria factors to consider in evaluating each candidate site In its environmental evaluation, the task force identified a number of environmental Several specific questions for each factor issues pertaining to each site. Such issues include: sensitive ecological resources; Values assigned to the potential responses to each criteria land uses and regulations; required physical alterations; environmental contamina- tion; and necessary infrastructure improvements. For the Prime Sites, the task force To assist in evaluating site suitability, the technical evaluation applied: (1) Planning consulted existing environmental documents and information. and Urban Design Criteria; (2) Economic Criteria; (3) Transportation Criteria; and (4) Environmental Criteria. A brief description of each criterion follows. For more Many of the Candidate Sites detailed background on the site evaluation criteria and process, consult the techni- feature direct views to Washington’s major monuments. cal master plan document. Planning and Urban Design Criteria The physical characteristics, visual quality, and the presence of historic or cultural resources were evaluated as part of each site analysis. The site’s relevance to the master plan framework, along with its attractiveness and suitability as a potential memorial or museum destination, factored into the evaluation. JOINT TASK FORCE ON MEMORIALS 19 Site Selection Figure 3-1 Candidate Site Locations NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION 20 MEMORIALS AND MUSEUMS MASTER PLAN With Prime Sites listed first, the 100 candidate sites are: Candidate Memorial and Museum Sites No. General Location/Description Note: Sites #1 through 20 represent the Prime Sites 11 Walt Whitman Park along E Street between 19th and 20th Streets, NW 1 Memorial Avenue at George Washington Memorial Parkway (west of Memorial Bridge ) 12 On the Tidal Basin on Maine Avenue west of 14th Street, SW E Street expressway interchange on the east side of the Kennedy Center (north of Outlet Bridge) 2 Intersection of Maryland and Independence Avenues, SW 13 In East Potomac Park on the Potomac River 3 (between 4th and 6th Streets) (at the current railroad and/or Metrorail bridges) Kingman Island (Anacostia River) 14 The intersection of New York and Florida Avenues 4 (and new Metrorail Station) Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 13th -14th Streets 5 15 Pennsylvania Avenue and the Anacostia River Potomac River waterfront on Rock Creek Parkway 6 (at west end of the Sousa Bridge) (south of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge) 16 Anacostia River waterfront south shore in Anacostia Park, SE East Capitol Street east of 19th Street 7 (old Architect of the Capitol nursery) (north of the Armory - current west entrance to RFK) 17 West of North Capitol Street on McMillan Reservoir Grounds, NW South Capitol Street terminus at the Anacostia River, SE/SW 8 (former sand filtration plant) (Florida Rock 'amenity' site) 18 South of Ash Road at the NPS horse stables site, West Potomac Park 10th Street Overlook at south end of L'Enfant Promenade, SW 9 19 The intersection of Maryland and Virginia Avenues, SW 10 Constitution Gardens south of Constitution